An effort to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jails is being observed May 16th, including in Keokuk and Washington Counties.

According to the National Association of Counties, approximately two million of the nearly 11 million annual jail admissions involve a person with a serious mental illness. Washington County Supervisor Jack Seward explains the National Stepping Up Initiative Day of Action, “It deals with a problem of mental health services in the jails. It’s a nationwide effort that was started and sponsored by the National Association of Counties and we’ve signed on to it.” Jail Alternatives Coordinator for Washington and Keokuk Counties Elley Gould will hold a presentation Wednesday in Sigourney at 9 a.m. and in Washington at the Noon Kiwanis meeting about local efforts to address the issue.